Labor’s Meg Brown says RTI documents show extra costs for Metro for hydrogen buses
Metro’s hydrogen buses are now running but Labor has revealed the extra costs in getting them on the road.
Tasmania
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Labor has accused the government of “incompetence” after documents show Metro is seeking thousands of dollars reimbursement for the botched roll-out of its hydrogen buses.
It was revealed last November that three new $11m hydrogen buses were sitting unused at Metro’s Moonah depot.
Metro said at the time it was “well advanced” to conduct the hydrogen bus trial and was awaiting a supply of hydrogen.
Right To Information documents show that when Metro finally got a shipment of hydrogen in 2025, they could not use it because it was the wrong type.
It cost them tens of thousands of dollars and continued to delay the roll out of hydrogen buses.
In a letter to the Blue Economy CRC-Co Ltd, Metro CEO Katie Cooper said Metro Tasmania had incurred additional costs due to delays in the supply of hydrogen and the change in the type of fuel trailer that was to be used.
“Based on these delays and the unsuitable hydrogen, Metro believes BECRC didn’t take reasonable care to avoid causing Metro extra costs,” she wrote.
“Metro values our ongoing relationship with BECRC and would prefer to avoid unnecessary disputes.
“However, the delays and miscommunications outlined have caused significant costs for the project, which we believe could have been avoided.
“We therefore seek reimbursement of $24,227 plus GST for the additional commissioning expenses and $7,224.50 plus GST for the replacement hose, totalling $34,596.65 inclusive of GST.”
Labor’s transport spokeswoman Meg Brown was critical of the delays in the hydrogen buses roll out.
“Just like the Spirits of Tasmania stuff-up – where he bought two ships that couldn’t dock in Devonport – Jeremy Rockliff spent $11m on buses that couldn’t be used, then bought fuel that can’t fuel them,” Ms Brown said.
“This pattern of incompetence is exactly the sort of reason why the parliament lost confidence in Mr Rockliff.
“We’re talking about tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted on hydrogen that literally couldn’t be pumped into a single bus. You couldn’t make this up.
“Whether its ferries with no berth, or buses that can’t run – after 11 years of the Liberals – Tasmanians are being forced to foot the bill for a government that promises everything and delivers nothing.”
However, a government spokeswoman fired back accusing Labor of “nothing more than muckraking”.
“The fact of the matter is that the hydrogen electric buses have been delivered and are currently in operation,” she said.
“Further, one would have expected Labor to be supportive of Metro’s efforts to ensure that Tasmanian taxpayer dollars are recouped, where appropriate, given recent rhetoric.”
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Originally published as Labor’s Meg Brown says RTI documents show extra costs for Metro for hydrogen buses
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